General Cycling Discussion - aaarrrgh!! I broke my collar bone

I flew off a jump and crash landed on my head/arm memorial day weekend. I wound up fracturing my right pinkie finger and my right clavicle twice, in addition to jamming several other fingers. The clavicle break sucks since I can't ride for a good 8 weeks while it heals. It was a very nasty break and required surgery and a metal plate and screws to hold everything together.
I've heard that this is a fairly common accident...so what did you other clavicle breakers do while healing? I don't particularly like running but I suppose I have to do something to stay in shape.

Gutted, both for the break and for not being able to ride for eight weeks. Anyway hope you have a full and speedy recovery, Portent.

I had a friend who broke her clavicle. She couldn't do anything....

Sorry... :(

Take time to heal! If you keep on trying to exercise, you may exascerbate the problem, and you'll end up off the bike all summer! Don't do it, seriously.

Koffee

You should atleast get out and walk. The worst thing you could do is sit around and do nothing.

I dislocated my clavicle after a race, I ran, biked on a trainer, and used a stairmaster

The clavicles are arguably the flimsiest, most easily damaged bones in the entire human skeleton. I did a double break of the left clavicle in 1976, in my only close encounter with a motor vehicle. I barely avoided surgery, and mine healed nicely in about 3 weeks, with the help of only an external elastic butterfly strap. My only lasting reminders are that my left shoulder is a few mm shorter than my right, and the two calluses on my clavicle cause a very rare bit of discomfort under an automobile or back pack shoulder strap.

I strongly recommend walking and studio cycling for now, then gently-increasing weight training. My range of motion returned far more rapidly from this break than from my Colles' fracture of the radius, which was also far more painful.

Best wishes for a rapid, uneventful recovery!

Get well soon montlake_mtbkr ! :(

Get some rest, heal up, then when you're ready, get back at 'er!

PS - How hard did you hit your head? Were you wearing a helmet?

yes I had my helmet on. I never ride without it, even to the corner store. I did slightly crack the helmet as well--second helmet I've broken in a year. I don't think I hit it too hard--mostly it was scraped up from my head sliding along the ground. I didn't lose conciousness or anything which is good.

good idea cbhungry, the gym I go to has both stairmasters and stationary bikes. I think I'll start doing that in a little while.

where were you jumping?

hope you get well soon.

I broke my clavicle and I didn't notice any problem at all. Of course, I did notice some problems doing things because I also broke my scapula, 2 ribs (shoot they didn't even TELL me about these) and my ulna in 2 places which required surgery and a big old screw to hold it togther).

The percentage of cyclists who ride alot and have broken a collar bone is very high.

You can start exercising again after about a week. They are no big deal. It is a little uncomfortable but you will heal faster if you get back into it fairly soon.

Wait until you get you heal then get some cold damp weather!!!

Get well soon, mate.

My missus has a total maniacal fear of clavicles. If I touch hers lightly with my finger, she goes absolutely hysterical. She's told me to shoot her if she ever breaks one!

There are many ways of keeping fit so you'll find something useful. A trainer will keep you in reasonable trim during the 8 weeks.

I shattered my right clavicle, left wrist and a rib while on a cycling tour and it took a while to heal. After about 8 weeks, I went on a 3-week canoe trip and my shoulder was fine, but my wrist sure hurt! It has been about 27 months since my accident, I still have chronic discomfort in my right shoulder, and the only time it feels good is when I am cycling!

See - I told you those bicycle thingies were dangerous. Why can't you take up a nice sport like knitting? Just make sure that the knitting needles aren't too sharp.

Seriously though - I hope it all heals quickly.:)

Like Klein said, the least you should do is walk around. If you are completely inactive, those muscles that support it may become some wat attrifeed (sp?) and then you would have to recondition those muscles which results in no more summer. Take it easy and use caution and feel better.